some call him tim

Rising star chef takes his talents to hotly anticipated new River Oaks restaurant

Chef Tim Reading will lead Leo's when it opens next year.

Photo by Andrew Hemingway

An eagerly anticipated new restaurant in River Oaks has found its chef. Tim Reading will lead the kitchen at Leo’s River Oaks.

Scheduled to open in late spring 2024 in the River Oaks Shopping Center, Leo’s River Oaks is the latest project from Culinary Khancepts, the hospitality group behind State Fare Kitchen & Bar and Liberty Kitchen. The fine dining restaurant will serve steaks, seafood, and more in luxurious environment with a spacious patio.

Reading brings a wealth of experience to his role. Most recently, he earned a CultureMap Tastemaker Awards nomination for Rising Star Chef of the Year at GJ Tavern, Underbelly Hospitality’s casual restaurant that closed in July. Prior to that, he earned recognition from Texas Monthly for his Mexican restaurant Ixim at Bravery Chef Hall. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Reading’s resume also includes time at a two Michelin star restaurant in Germany, work for Boston chef Michael Schlow, and work for James Beard Award winner Hugo Ortega at his Galleria-area seafood restaurant Caracol.

Reading represented Leo’s at the recent Urban Harvest Sunday Supper fundraiser where he served roasted pork loin. On a more personal note, his frequent carpool karaoke sessions make him an extremely entertaining Instagram follow.“I’m extremely excited to begin my new Houston chapter with Culinary Khancepts at Leo’s Restaurant,” Reading said in a statement. “I’m a purest. I like to let the ingredients speak for themselves.”

Leo’s will be located next to the historic River Oaks Theatre that will also be operated by Culinary Khancepts. When the company announced in May that it had begun renovations, it expected to reopen the movie theater by the end of the year. However, a representative tells CultureMap that it is not expected to reopen until sometime in 2024.

The River Oaks Shopping Center has seen a number of restaurant openings and closings in the past couple of years. Most recently, La Griglia announced it would move from the area to a new home in Montrose. Zanti Cucina Italiana recently celebrated its first anniversary in The Driscoll at River Oaks luxury high-rise. Other recent additions include Mediterranean fine dining restaurant Albi and Hudson House, a casual neighborhood restaurant that opened earlier this month next to Brasserie 19. Cocody, a restaurant from the food and beverage team behind shuttered French restaurant Le Mistral, is expected to open in the coming weeks.

news-you-can-eat openings chefs

there's the rub

Restaurant known for 'new Houston cuisine' now open in Cypress

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.

A restaurant known for its eclectic “new Houston cuisine” has opened in Cypress. The fourth location of Jonathan’s the Rub is now open for dinner in Bridgeland (20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway).

First announced last year, the new Jonathan’s is located in Village Green, a 70-acre mixed-use development within the 925-acre Bridgeland Central district. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant includes two patios totaling 2,600 square feet, giving the restaurant plenty of room for private dining rooms, a bar area, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits and greenery.

“We were looking for the next frontier — a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” chef-owner Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “When we discovered Bridgeland and learned it was a Howard Hughes development, we were immediately impressed. With their reputation for developing generational communities, we felt confident that Bridgeland was the right place for our family and for Jonathan’s the Rub.”

Like Jonathan’s three other locations, the menu at Bridgeland is built around Levine’s signature “new Houston cuisine,” a kicked-up take on comfort food that includes everything from lobster tacos and blackened shrimp and grits to Italian American classics and steakhouse fare.

Village Green is also home to H-E-B and restaurants such as Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café and Crust Pizza Co. Austin-based burger joint P. Terry’s will open there next year.

“Jonathan’s the Rub’s arrival in Bridgeland Central brings a distinguished addition to the culinary scene in both the community and northwest Houston,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas region, for Bridgeland developer Howard Hughes Communities. “We’re proud to partner with exceptional restaurateurs like Chef Jonathan Levine to bring elevated dining experiences that enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and neighbors.”

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.